2000 04 00 Psychological Reports - Vol 86 No 2 - Musgrave

Magazine Overview

This document is a scholarly article titled "FLIGHT AND ABDUCTION IN WITCHCRAFT AND UFO LORE" published in Psychological Reports, Volume 86, pages 669-688, in 2000. The authors are John Brent Musgrave and James Houran.

Summary of the Article

The article posits that the folklore surrounding the mythical Witches' Sabbat and contemporary reports of UFO abductions share significant commonalities. These include the use of masks by the entities involved, the appearance of mysterious "Men in Black," and narratives of flight and abduction. The authors argue that these UFO abduction narratives are essentially a modern iteration of older tales of flight to the Sabbat, serving similar psychological needs for explanation, freedom, release, and escape.

The Witches' Sabbat, a periodic gathering of Satan and his disciples, is presented as central to understanding European witchcraft. The authors draw parallels between historical disputes over the reality of the Sabbat and contemporary debates about the reality and meaning of UFO sightings and abductions. While acknowledging that UFO abductions have been discussed as modern versions of folklore about capture by supernatural beings, the authors emphasize their strong connection to the myth of the Witches' Sabbat.

The paper aims to outline case histories of flight and abduction to both Witches' Sabbats and UFOs, compare these stories for parallels and differences, and speculate on the underlying historical, social, and psychological factors.

Motifs Common to Witchcraft and UFO Lore

Three related motifs are identified as common to witchcraft and UFO lore:

1. The Use of Masks: In witchcraft tradition, the devil or warlock was often hidden behind a mask. Similarly, UFO abductees report that their abductors wear masks, sometimes described as pear-shaped heads with large black eyes that seem to cover real eyes. Various descriptions of masks, helmets, visors, and faceplates are cited from UFO lore.

2. "Men in Black" (or other "evil" color): In witchcraft, the devil and his attendants sometimes appeared in conservative, dark clothing, behaving coldly. UFO lore includes accounts of ominous visits by cold, socially awkward men in conservative black suits, often associated with large black automobiles. These "MIB" figures reportedly deliver messages to UFO investigators, warning them to desist.

3. Flights/Teleportations: Historical accounts describe witches and strangers encountering "innocent" individuals who are then involuntarily teleported to the Sabbat, often finding themselves hundreds of miles from home. This is paralleled in UFO literature by individuals or families who find themselves transported vast distances after being taken aboard a UFO. Descriptions include being "beamed" aboard by a ray of light or floating into the craft. Both types of narratives involve transportation to exotic places, ceremonies, sexual undertones, and implicit rebellion against authority.

Flight and Abduction to the Sabbat

By the 10th century, elements like nocturnal flight, sexual debauchery, and pacts with the devil became significant in Sabbat lore. The classical Sabbat, as described by Robbins (1978), consisted of assembly, homage to Satan, a banquet, dancing, and sexual intercourse. The formal ritual of the Sabbat took shape in the 14th and 15th centuries, becoming a permanent feature of witchcraft by the 16th century. The Inquisition placed importance on extracting admissions of Sabbat attendance.

Three main interpretations of the Sabbat's essence were debated: (1) as a pagan ritual presided over by a divinity, with flight reports being delusions; (2) as a real event with Satan's attendance; and (3) as a non-existent event resulting from judicial procedure, torture, or imagination (e.g., from flying ointments) or mental deficiency.

The article notes that many flight/abduction stories appear to originate from a few authors, often recording hearsay rather than conducting investigations. Several historical case histories are presented:

• Johannes Nider (1435-1437): A preceptor's tale of a woman who claimed to fly with Diana after using flying ointment.
• Gianfrancesco Pico Della Mirandola (1523): A priest encountered a stranger and was transported to a mountain plain with a multitude dancing and feasting, finding himself far from home.
• Paulus Grillandi (1525): A peasant's story of his wife flying to the Sabbat, and his subsequent participation, which ended abruptly when he thanked God.
• Paulus Grillandi (continued): A story of a 16-year-old girl seduced and taken to the Sabbat, who also experienced a sudden disappearance after praising Jesus.
• Jean Bodin (1579): Repeated Grillandi's tale and cited a similar case in France; also mentioned a case from Spoleto (1535) and a party that took three years to get home.
• Pierre de Lancre (1613): Claimed witches were transported to Newfoundland for the Sabbat.
• Reginal Scot (quoting Bodin): An account of a noblewoman and her lover using flying ointment to fly to an assembly of Witches in Lorraine.
• Secondary sources: Mention a Swedish village panic in Mora (late 17th century) where children claimed to have gone to the Sabbat.
• Records of Salem Witchcraft: Contain sketchy references to flight to witches' meetings.

Flight and Abduction to UFOs

UFO reports are popularly associated with extraterrestrial life. The article discusses UFO occupant cases, noting that while some are ephemeral, a significant subset involves extended contact with craft pilots. The 1950s saw the rise of "contactees" who claimed communication with peaceful "space brothers." The authors caution against attributing these experiences solely to psychopathology, noting that individuals claiming UFO beliefs may exhibit traits like schizotypy and dissociation, making them potentially susceptible to delusional thinking. The distinction between contactee and abductee is sometimes blurred.

Reports of humanoids engaging in bizarre activities and the parallel with folklore of elves and fairies are mentioned. The focus of the paper, however, is on forced abduction into craft for physical examinations or sexual intercourse.

Modern UFO abduction reports are considered by some investigators as proof of extraterrestrial technology. The article notes the evolution of abduction reports from an embarrassment to a fad, leading to numerous publications. The quality ranges from popular articles to scientific studies.

Several "typical" abduction cases are summarized:

• Carlos Alberto Diaz (January 4, 1975): Found miles from home after experiencing a bright flash of light and paralysis, he reported being aboard an aircraft with creatures. Medical and police examinations confirmed his story, and the distance traveled was deemed impossible by conventional means.
• Betty and Barney Hill (September 19, 1961): While driving home, they observed a UFO, experienced nightmares, and under hypnosis described being taken aboard a craft for physical examinations and communication with the leader.
• Travis Walton (November 5, 1975): Seven men witnessed a hovering object. Walton approached it, was lifted by a light, and disappeared for five days. He reappeared stunned, recalling being on a table with strange creatures and in a circular room with levers and screens.
• Antonio Villas-Boas (October 15, 1957): A Brazilian farmer reported landing near his tractor, being taken aboard a UFO by helmeted occupants, undergoing examinations (including blood extraction), and having intercourse with a woman who pointed to her stomach and then the sky.

Comparisons and Parallel Problems

The article concludes by preparing to compare the case histories documented and discuss parallel problems, implying a continuation of the analysis of similarities between witchcraft and UFO abduction narratives.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the deep structural and symbolic connection between historical witchcraft narratives (specifically the Witches' Sabbat) and modern UFO abduction accounts. The authors' stance is that UFO abductions are not entirely novel phenomena but rather a contemporary expression of ancient folklore, fulfilling similar psychological needs and employing parallel symbolism. They approach the subject from a comparative mythology and psychological perspective, seeking to understand the underlying human experiences and cultural expressions rather than solely focusing on the literal reality of the events.

This document, titled "WITCHCRAFT AND UFO ABDUCTION," is a scholarly article that draws parallels between historical witchcraft Sabbat lore and contemporary UFO abduction experiences. It explores the similarities in narrative structure, motivations, and psychological underpinnings of these phenomena.

Categorization of Flights and Abductions

The article begins by referencing Grillandi and de Lancre's categorization of witchcraft flights to Sabbat into three types: (1) voluntary and ardent flights by witches, often women; (2) voluntary or involuntary flights involving a companion or relative of a witch, frequently a male seduced by a woman; and (3) involuntary flights of travelers encountering strangers. The degree of culpability ranges from avid participation to "innocent" victimization.

Similarly, modern-day UFO "contactee" cases are broken down into three categories: (1) voluntary and conscious communication with "space people" for special wisdom; (2) forced abductions, sometimes unconscious, for sexual purposes; and (3) forced abductions, usually unconscious, for physical examination. These experiences often surface after nightmares or through hypnotic regression.

Similarities Between Sabbat and UFO Experiences

• Despite differences in detail (e.g., broomsticks vs. UFOs, open-air ceremonies vs. "spacecraft" interiors), the article posits that the variations within individual Sabbat or UFO cases are greater than the differences between the two traditions. Both traditions feature:
• Voluntary trips to another world: The magical world of witches or the technological world of space people.
• Forced abductions: To the same or similar worlds for spiritual or physical seduction or violation.
• Spectrum of personal involvement: Ranging from full participation to victimization.
• Carnal knowledge: Both traditions include elements of physical or spiritual intimacy.
• Teleportation and abandonment: Tales of being transported to strange places and left far from home.
• Rituals: Similarities are noted in rituals, such as the use of incense and sponging before sexual intercourse, as reported in the Villas-Boas case, which parallel Sabbat rituals.

Gender Distribution and Interpretation

The article notes that historically, voluntary flights to Sabbat were predominantly by female witches, while "involuntary" flights were primarily by men. This is often explained by the historical view of women as weaker and more susceptible to Satan. However, the authors suggest that modern-day UFO experiences show a different distribution, with contactees being more frequently men, and contemporary abductions being fairly equally distributed between males and females. This raises questions about how much the flight experience was historically a female versus a male experience, and how societal factors might have influenced reporting and interpretation.

Explanations and Psychological Underpinnings

• Several explanations for these phenomena are discussed:
• Real physical events: Some argue for the literal reality of witchcraft or UFOs.
• Psychical phenomena: Others view them as windows to other worlds or perceptions.
• Manifestations of deficiencies: Explanations involving organic, psychological, or social deficiencies are also considered.

The authors highlight the role of investigators and their methods, particularly hypnotic regression, in shaping the narratives. They draw a parallel between the creation of the Sabbat phenomenon through interrogation methods and the potential influence of investigation techniques on UFO abduction accounts. The construction of memories, influenced by suggestion and prior knowledge (e.g., science fiction), is also discussed as a factor.

Dreams and Archetypes

Dreams of flying are presented as common and ancient, with interpretations ranging from liberation from hardship to access to a superhuman mode of being. Modern psychoanalytic interpretations emphasize organic and sexual roots. The article suggests that flight dreams and tales of Sabbat/UFO abductions may serve similar psychological functions, allowing for the working out of conscious or unconscious fantasies and needs. The symbols used in witchcraft center around the Sabbat myth, while UFO abductions focus on extraterrestrial life, but both involve journeys to other worlds with secret knowledge.

Social and Cultural Context

The article emphasizes that both witchcraft and UFO experiences are perceived as threats to established authority and orthodoxy, leading to social and political consequences for those who publicly share their experiences. The social stigma, while less severe than historical punishments like burning at the stake, remains significant.

Contemporary Research and Conclusion

Recent surveys indicate that paranormal experiences are universal. The authors suggest that modern abduction cases are likely more frequent than published accounts suggest and that the common pool of imagination/psychical energy may be a constant factor. They propose that contemporary UFO cases offer an advantage for study because the percipients are available today. Empirical evidence suggests that contacts with extraterrestrials might be an expression of a broader "entity encounter" experience, correlated with paranormal beliefs and a tendency towards "transliminality" (the crossing of psychological material into or out of consciousness). This suggests an "encounter-prone personality trait." The study also found that highly transliminal people are more inclined to report flying dreams.

The article concludes that whether one examines historical witchcraft documents or contemporary UFO abductee studies, the popular tales share many themes and motivating factors. Modern UFO abductions are seen as the Sabbat abduction "dressed up with contemporary props," drawing on the same symbolism and serving similar purposes: interpreting anomalous experiences and providing a sense of freedom, release, and escape.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes are the comparative analysis of witchcraft and UFO abductions, the psychological and sociological factors influencing these experiences, the role of memory and suggestion in narrative construction, and the potential for these phenomena to represent a shared underlying psychological matrix. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical academic inquiry, seeking to understand these experiences through historical, psychological, and sociological lenses rather than definitively asserting their literal truth or falsity.